Cozy Cottage Core Vibes for Nicole and Justin
Nicole and Justin’s wedding was one of the first of my wedding season and it was such a joyful day (also frickin hot). They hosted a small group of loved ones at her family cottage, just over the Manitoba/Ontario border.
With Emily from Feast & Festivities at the helm, the cozy cottage vibes were personal, cheerful, and relaxed.
And, of course, Nicole was immaculate ✨ From her custom gown to her henna, everything about her style was perfection.
Natasha’s style is obviously impeccable, and she came into the planning with a Spanish-inspired vision. The colour palette? Perfect. Her dresses? Breathtaking. The ceremony arch? One of my absolute faves.
Welcome to the cutest cottagecore wedding you’ve ever seen!
Nicole and Justin’s wedding was one of the first of my wedding season and it was such a joyful day (also frickin hot). They hosted a small group of loved ones at her family cottage, just over the Manitoba/Ontario border.
With Emily from Feast & Festivities at the helm, the cozy cottage vibes were personal, cheerful, and relaxed.
And, of course, Nicole was immaculate ✨ From her custom gown to her henna, everything about her style was perfection.
Photos by Casey Nolin Photography
Did I love Nicole’s bouquet? Yes. Did my Instagram followers love Nicole’s bouquet? ALSO YES.
I loved how light it was (seriously, like maybe 1 pound? It felt lighter than air). I loved how much movement it had. And I absolutely loved those locally grown tulips that totally stole the show.
I started with a base of lavender sweet pea, spiralling in the tulips, ranunculus, and delphinium that the colour movement was really soft and just had a small pop of bright orange. We finished it up with some Tono & Co silk ribbon.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Tulips, ranunculus, delphinium, feverfew, sweet pea, stock, and poppies.
The ceremony was in a small clearing, literally just the perfect size for their guests. I designed some ground-based florals for the front, adding in individual stems down the aisle to make it feel very natural. I kept all the floral selections light, wildflowery, and airy. No focal flowers allowed.
Not every cottage has the necessary amount of space to pitch a tent, and Nicole’s place had literally just the right amount of space. Like, literally JUST. Almost like they planned it.
They had a U shaped table plan, with a row of tables in the middle, which created a really communal feel. A small lounge welcomed tired dancers off the dance floor, with a fun hanging seating chart and adorable bar front. It’s those little details that take things to another level, even if it’s a simple and relaxed wedding!
I loved the warm neutral base of taupe linens with wooden cross-back chairs. It felt really easy, not remotely pretentious or overdone.
Such cute place settings, right? I love the relaxed way that Emily layered all of this together. A loosely (but also perfectly) draped napkin (we don’t want anything looking messy here, friends!) — and note that it’s tucked under the plates. I’ve had quite a few tent weddings with a knotted napkin or flat folded napkin that has blown right off the table thanks to our least favourite element, wind.
And then that angled menu with the “scattered” cutlery — so cute, right? Again, it’s meticulously placed and each place setting perfectly matched each other, but it’s also got this inherently relaxed feel that fits the cottage atmosphere really well.
And how cute is that custom made bar? Named after their sweet pup, “Bar Luna”’s ruffled edges perfectly matched with the seating chart, festooned with pressed flowers that Nicole had been pressing for the year leading to their wedding. A personalized, DIY element done RIGHT, my friends.
A few beautiful moments down by the lake, at sunset. Now that’s summer wedding perfection!
Can I tell you how hot it was this day? DANG my friends. It was like 40 degrees celcius. Luckily we were pretty nicely shaded with a bit of a breeze, but whew. Lots of sunscreen and water that day for me, and I also stole a few minutes to splash my feet in the lake, and that made a world of a difference. Cheers to weddings at the lake!
Casey Nolin Photography ~ Feast & Festivities ~ Minted ~ Planned Perfectly ~ Collective Event Rentals ~ Cathy Wiebe Clothes ~ Aldo Formalwear ~ Blush + Blonde ~ Henna by Azma
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
We can design a gorgeous wedding at the lake for you. Find out more about what we do by clicking the button below!
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Whimsical Summer Camp Wedding at the Lake
I love a good wedding at the lake, and when Caitlyn first reached out to me, I was so excited to hear some of her preliminary ideas and the general idea of having the wedding at a camp!
Mid-way through the planning, the venue actually changed and they ended up at King’s Cabins, which I think is kind of a fishing camp and it was SO COOL. The ambiance was amazing and I can’t wait to show you how everything came together!
I love a good wedding at the lake, and when Caitlyn first reached out to me, I was so excited to hear some of her preliminary ideas and the general idea of having the wedding at a camp!
Mid-way through the planning, the venue actually changed and they ended up at King’s Cabins (just outside of Emerald Bay, about an hour past Kenora), which I think is kind of a fishing camp and it was SO COOL. The ambiance was amazing and I can’t wait to show you how everything came together!
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: dahlias, ranunculus, toffee roses, delphinium, solidago, cosmos, amaranthus, feverfew, ferns, and dried poppy pods. A LOT of these ingredients were locally grown — always my fave!
As you can already see, this wedding was completely awesome. I suggested to Caitlyn that she hire a wedding planner, because hosting a wedding in a location where weddings don’t normally take place is a LOT of work. I was so happy to hear that she had hired Emily from Feast & Festivities, because I knew that the details Emily would pull together would be so unique and creative, and really bring the camp feel to life.
The focus was creating a whimsical, youthful ambiance with cheerful colours that played well with the natural woodsy surroundings.
The setting of the camp truly couldn’t have been more incredible. A long, windy driveway through the woods leading to the lake, with rustic log cabins sprinkled throughout the property. Some of the couple’s closest friends stayed on-site in the cabins, and it was so awesome to see how much fun they were all having and the way they supported the couple throughout the day. It wasn’t a hot day, so hearing some of the men squeal as they took some cold dives into the lake while I was setting up was pretty enjoyable for me 😂
The ceremony was tucked into the treeline, with guests seated along wood benches. The couple built and transported the arch to the cabin, and I designed a completely foam-free floral installation. If you’re not sure what that means, know that floral foam is really horrendous to the environment but like many things, it’s really easy to use. So, I’ve been challenging myself to get out of that comfort zone and design in a more sustainable way. This arch came together PERFECTLY using a single design tray lined with chicken wire, and some re-usable installation mechanics that hold water and are ziptied onto the arch structure. Everything aside from the zipties was reusable! Hooray!
I wanted this arch to feel really natural, bringing in lots of texture and greenery while popping the colour palette throughout to tie into the overall event design. I used a lot of different ferns, as they grow abundantly in the area, along with pine boughs that I foraged from the property on my drive in that morning.
Feast & Festivities curated some truly adorable camp-themed design elements, like the pennants, a chalkboard schedule, a mess hall-inspired seating chart, and camping mug favours.
Just take a look at this reception space! The tent was set up near the ceremony space as a backup, and though it was kind of misting throughout the morning, we decided to go for it and keep the reception al fresco — I love when couples make this decision! The stress is worth it when you can look around and see all your loved ones enjoying the open air and just having an awesome time together.
String lights, banquet and round tables surrounding an old stone fireplace, and the trees…the ambiance could not have been better!
I LOVE the way the colour palette was pulled throughout the wedding. I think a lot of people just say “I’m having a blue wedding” and then choose a blue tablecloth and bridesmaid dresses and leave it at that. This palette was so expertly layered to create depth and visual interest.
The florals on the tables were actually super simple — the round tables featured a short cylinder vase with a simple arrangement of ferns and white cosmos, and the banquet tables saw clusters of my cream pottery stem vases with petite arrangements. Adding in the coloured candles on those terracotta planter trays was another perfect addition.
I just LOVED Caitlyn’s dress — it’s dramatic in all the right ways, without taking any attention away from her stunning natural beauty. I don’t usually get to see any of the wedding pictures being taken, but given that everything happened on site, I actually got to be a bit of a peeping tom while their photos were happening and I was SO excited to see how they turned out. Aren’t these just gorgeous?
Lake weddings for the win, people!
gina brandt photography ~ Feast & Festivities ~ planned perfectly ~ collective event rentals ~ Emerald Event Rentals ~ Spark Rentals ~ Minted ~ Steven King Cabins
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
My 2023 wedding wait list has been started!
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Flower-Filled Lake of the Woods Wedding
I love Lake of the Woods weddings, and Kailee and Stephane’s was such a special one. Fair warning, this post is going to be a little photo heavy because 1) the photos are AWESOME and 2) Kailee told me right off the hop that she loves flowers and wanted lots of them - so I made that happen :)
Kailee and I never actually met in person, which is often the case for my out-of-town clients. They live and work in Kenora, so it just wasn’t really convenient for them to come into Winnipeg just to meet with me about flowers. We did everything over Facetime and email. I generally find that this process works really well for out-of-town couples, particularly when they trust me to do a great job for them. Kailee told me her favourite things (she really, really loves roses!) and her colour palette of blush, cream and black, and I took it from there. Originally she envisioned very classic, round floral designs but towards the end of the planning, she asked if we could loosen things up. The designs should still have a fairly formal feel, but with a looser shape that suited the outdoor wedding a little better.
Taliah Leigh Photography ~ Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club ~ Posh and Pixie Salon
Ah, Kailee’s bouquet. I loved it! It was a huge, huge bouquet with a soft blush, peach, and cream palette.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: white o’Hara garden roses, quicksand roses, and mother of peal roses with white ranunculus and calcynia. I’m telling you the truth, this might be my favourite combination. The colour variation was subtle enough for a blush palette but thanks to the really delicate touches of peach, it was more interesting than the typical blush and cream. I had a really hard time letting this one go!
Can you imagine this boat as your getting ready location?
I had already booked another wedding in Winnipeg for the same weekend, which meant that I wasn’t able to drive out to Kenora to deliver and set everything up for them. It’s always my preference to be able to do it myself, but sometimes with out of town weddings, that’s just not do-able! So, one of Kailee’s brothers pulled up to my place the day before the wedding. We arranged for him to bring a van, they lined up an air conditioned to keep the van cool over-night, and we packed that thing full to the top with flowers! I was actually quite anxious that there wouldn’t be enough space, as the original plan was for them to rent a cargo van but they ended up needing to use a mini-van. We played some serious Tetris that morning, and miraculously, it all fit in.
I always love dock ceremonies at the Royal Yacht Club because that view is just incredible. In this case, the couple had this wooden arch made and I designed these large floral pieces to frame them in. I filled them with lots of roses, Kailee’s favourite, and they were like lush floral clouds for them to get married under.
I love that lake weddings mean you get an unconventional walk down the “aisle!”
The Royal Yacht Club at Kenora has an indoor facility, but it’s not very large. Kailee and Steph erected a tent on one of the tennis courts instead, which allowed them to move from indoors to out really easily at different points throughout the evening. I designed a mix of low and tall arrangements, which were scattered on the tables and around the Yacht Club. I love the rose gold accents that Kailee brought in with the candleholders and flatware.
If this last photo doesn’t do the perfect job of telling you why lake weddings are the very best, then I just don’t know how else I could say it. 💕
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
Getting married in Winnipeg or the Lake of theWoods? Whether it's a whimsical garden party inspired celebration or a formal ballroom fete, I think flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Maybe you already have a specific vision or you might want me to dream up something custom just for you - either way, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
I’ll be opening up appointments for 2020 wedding dates very soon - but be sure to get on the waitlist in the meantime!
Krystyl and Keith's Outdoor Lake Wedding
I love lake weddings! This one I was unfortunately not able to get out to (they had everything picked up and brought it out to the lake themselves), but just being able to look at the photos and imagine the scent of the pines and beautiful, reflective quality of the water and it just feels so peaceful, doesn't it?
Photos: Kamp Photography ~ Venue: Camp Brereton ~ Day of Coordination: Amanda Douglas Events ~ Rentals: C&T Rentals
Originally, Krystyl wanted to go with a white and green scheme, until she came across an inspiration image that warmed and deepened that colour palette up a bit - sandy blushes, warm neutrals, and burgundy plums. I am really fond of the way it all came together!
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: peonies, quicksand and sahara roses, brown lisianthus, scabiosa and ranunculus, with ninebark foliage, olive, rosemary, and silver dollar eucalyptus.
The bridesmaids all wore different white dresses, which looks so crisp against the verdant greens and bright bluey greys of the water. And I had to include one of the handsome guy below, my brother-in-law, Chad!
They always hoped that they'd be able to have the ceremony outdoors, and I'm so glad that they were able to in the end. This is about as "beachy" as you get in the Whiteshell, and instead of sand, you get stone :) They built this gorgeous wood arbor for their ceremony and I loved Krystyl's idea of hanging a macrame wall hanging on it. We added an asymmetrical garland, along with some loose blooms in the burgundy, blush, and white palette. I have to thank my sister, Carmen (who is one of Krystyl's good friends) who set this all up for us! While working on it, she texted me: "you have the worst job." ha!
The camp has long banquet tables, which worked great in the space. Krystyl chose to keep the tables more neutral, alternating greenery on some of them and florals with rattan table runners (which they made from Ikea mats!). The copper flatware made an ENORMOUS difference and just makes the overall room design feel so customized.
Looking for a wedding florist in Winnipeg or Lake of the Woods?
Getting married in Manitoba or out at the cabin? I might be biased, but flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Limited summer 2019 wedding dates remain available. Click below to check your date!
2018 Wedding Flower Consulations
Hello all brides and grooms to be!
This past weekend, I wrapped up my crazy busy spring/summer/fall wedding stretch. Here in Manitoba, we have such a distinct wedding season thanks to the weather, so I just have to push through it. And now that it's over, I'm looking forward to meeting with more and more 2018 couples and dreaming up amazing ideas for your weddings!
Photo by Ariana Tennyson
So, if you're looking for...
creative, uniquely inspired wedding flowers
a wedding that looks and feels differently than what your friends have had
a well thought-out colour palette that is a lot more interesting than just what you see on Pinterest
And if you're getting married in Winnipeg and the surrounding areas, or Kenora/Lake of the Woods area...
Then I might just be the right floral designer for your wedding! My 2018 season is booking up, but I still have plenty of spring and fall availability with summer dates booking very quickly. Please don't hesitate to reach out and we'll schedule an appointment to brainstorm some fantastic ideas!
Photo by Brittany Mahood
Want to see if I'm still available for your date? Click the button below. I'll respond back promptly and outline how the whole process works. Can't wait to hear from you!